FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Sova Protocol
General
What is Sova?
Sova is the liquidity layer for cross-chain cryptocurrency. The protocol enables:
Swaps — Cross-chain token exchange across 50+ networks with native BTC/ZEC
Vaults — Earn yield by depositing cbBTC to fund solver activity
Limit Orders — Conditional swap execution at target prices
All powered by intent-based settlement through a decentralized solver network.
What chains does Sova support?
50+ networks including:
Layer 1: Ethereum, BNB Chain, Avalanche, Polygon, Bitcoin, Solana
Layer 2: Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, zkSync Era, Linea, Scroll, Blast, Mode, Mantle
Additional: Unichain, Sonic, Sei, Berachain, Apechain, and more
Is Sova audited?
Sova smart contracts implement battle-tested standards:
ERC-4626 for tokenized vaults
OpenZeppelin base contracts
Transparent proxy pattern for upgrades
Role-based access control
All contracts verified on BaseScan.
What wallets work with Sova?
Any EVM-compatible wallet:
MetaMask
Coinbase Wallet
WalletConnect-compatible wallets
Rainbow
For BTC/ZEC swaps, you also need a wallet for those networks.
Swapping
How long do swaps take?
EVM → BTC/ZEC
~15 minutes
BTC/ZEC → EVM
~20 minutes
EVM ↔ EVM
~2-5 minutes
Settlement time varies with network conditions.
What are the swap fees?
USDC → BTC/ZEC
0.5%
Other Token → BTC/ZEC
~0.8%
BTC/ZEC → EVM
0.5%
No hidden fees. Gas costs (~$0.10-0.20 on Base) are additional.
Why is my swap taking longer?
Common causes:
Network congestion (BTC/ZEC confirmations vary)
High bridge activity (settlement queue longer)
Large orders (additional processing)
Check Transactions page for status. Contact support if over 1 hour.
What if my swap fails?
Refunds are automatic:
Outbound: Tokens returned to EVM wallet
Inbound: BTC/ZEC returned to source address
Refunds complete within minutes. Up to 24 hours in rare cases.
Can I cancel a swap?
Before execution: Contact support immediately
After execution starts: Cannot be cancelled
Limit orders: Cancel anytime before target reached
Which Bitcoin addresses are supported?
SegWit
bc1q...
Recommended
Taproot
bc1p...
Supported
Legacy
1...
Supported
P2SH
3...
Supported
Does Sova support shielded Zcash?
No. Only transparent addresses (t1...) are supported. Shielded addresses (zs...) are incompatible with cross-chain bridging.
Can I send from an exchange?
No. Use a personal wallet where you control private keys.
Exchanges use pooled withdrawal addresses, causing refund issues if problems occur.
Vaults
What are the vault fees?
Management
0%
Performance
10% (on profits only)
Deposit
0%
Withdrawal
0%
Protocol only earns when depositors earn.
How does svBTC work?
svBTC is an ERC-4626 tokenized vault share:
Represents proportional vault ownership
Auto-compounds yield via exchange rate appreciation
Fully transferable and composable
Redeemable for cbBTC plus earnings
Where does yield come from?
Real economic activity:
Settlement fees — From cross-chain swap execution
Bridge fees — 0.5% on swap volume
Future: $SOVA staking rewards
No inflationary token emissions.
Can I withdraw anytime?
Yes. Most withdrawals process immediately.
Large withdrawals or high-activity periods may enter a queue. Check status on Redemptions page.
How do I add svBTC to my wallet?
Import token manually:
Contract
0xdFc4047620bd71F3dd781f1048f6890b76281D36
Symbol
svBTC
Decimals
8
Limit Orders
How do limit orders work?
Set target price
Deposit tokens to limit order contract
System monitors price 24/7
When price hits target → automatic execution
Native BTC/ZEC sent to wallet
Cancel anytime before execution for full refund.
Are there extra fees?
No. Same fees as market swaps (0.5-0.8%).
Fees charged only on execution. No fee for cancelled or expired orders.
What expiry options exist?
1 Day
1 Week
1 Month
1 Year
Never (no expiry)
Expired orders return tokens automatically.
Security
Are my funds safe?
Security measures:
ERC-4626 standard for vaults
Upgradeable proxies for security patches
Role-based access control
Multi-sig admin for critical functions
Verified contracts on BaseScan
What if there's a bug?
Report to: [email protected]
Protocol has:
Upgradeable contracts for patches
Multi-sig controlled pause functionality
Incident response procedures
Is personal data collected?
Sova is non-custodial. No collection of:
Personal information
KYC data
Wallet balances beyond on-chain data
Wallet connections handled by Privy (no private key storage).
Troubleshooting
Transaction stuck on "Pending"
Check if confirmed on BaseScan
If confirmed, wait for cross-chain processing (~10-15 min)
If not confirmed after 30 min, increase gas or resubmit
"Insufficient Balance" error
Verify token balance for swap
Ensure ETH for gas (~$0.20)
For vaults, minimum is $500 equivalent
Quote keeps changing
Normal behavior. Quotes update based on:
Market price movements
Liquidity availability
Network conditions
Quote locked once transaction confirmed.
Can't connect wallet
Try:
Refresh page
Clear browser cache
Disable conflicting extensions
Use different wallet
Switch browsers
Support
When contacting support, include:
Order ID (if applicable)
Transaction hash
Screenshot of issue
Wallet address (public only)
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